Algophobia – Symptoms of Algophobia – Treatment of Algophobia Share your stories and support others... Algophobia Tweet Algophobia is an extreme and irrational fear of pain. This phobia can be spurred by a wide variety of factors including traumatic events and hypersensitivity. Unlike those with a normal fear of pain, algophobics have developed a fear that is so extreme it hinders their ability to carry out normal, everyday activities. Some such activities might include lifting a heavy object, working with tools, walking in the dark or playing physically challenging games with friends. While someone with normal fear will see these situations as unlikely sources of limited or moderate pain, an algophobic sees them as terrifying and extremely harmful. Still, it is not necessarily the degree of pain that the algophobic wants to avoid but rather pain altogether. Symptoms of Algophobia This condition may be a specific phobia, existing by itself, or concomitant with other disorders that can be psychological or the result of substance abuse . Identifying algophobia may be easy. A definitive diagnosis, however, is best left to a mental health professional. If you or someone you know becomes extremely upset at the prospect of even the slightest or most common pains, algophobia might possibly be the reason.

Some of the immediate reactions that might appear include: Feelings of dread or panic when exposed to an activity or other element that might cause pain or physical discomfort Automatic or uncontrollable reactions Extreme avoidance of situations that pose no real or imminent danger Treatment of Algophobia Treatment for this phobia is best left to a mental health professional who can target the inciting factors of the disorder. The goal of a mental health expert should be to find the root of the phobia by identifying the cause of the person’s extreme and irrational fear. The patient and therapist discuss why the fear is unfounded, how they can come to terms with any traumatic experiences that caused the phobia, as well as ways to deal with the symptoms of the condition. This type of psychotherapy generally has a very high success rate, with the vast majority of patients completely overcoming or successfully coping with algophobia symptom-free for years, if not for the rest of their lives. Other methods of psychotherapy include exposure therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy . These types of treatment involve meetings between the patient and therapist in which the patient is systematically and gradually exposed to the source of fear while learning to control and rationalize their physical and mental reactions to it.

By facing algophobia head on, the patient becomes accustomed to it and thus, ultimately realizes that his or her initial fears were not grounded in real or imminent danger. If you are searching for help with algophobia, finding it is easier than you think. There are countless therapists and peer groups willing to help not only with overcoming the disorder but also its attendant psychological difficulties. Do not let algophobia stifle your life and constantly give you something to fear. Do not hesitate to reach out for support. View Resources Algophobia | definition of algophobia by Medical dictionary Algophobia | definition of algophobia by Medical dictionary al·go·pho·bi·a (al-gō-fō'bē-ă), Abnormal fear of pain; sensitivity may lead to algophobia, depending on the psychological makeup of the person, but sensitivity to pain could be on other than psychological grounds. [algo- + G. phobos, fear] /al·go·pho·bia/ (-fo´be-ah) irrational fear of pain. algophobia An abnormal fear of pain. al′go·phobe′ n. al′go·pho′bic adj.

algophobia Etymology: Gk, algos, pain, phobos, fear an anxiety disorder characterized by an abnormal, pervasive fear of experiencing pain or of witnessing pain in others. algophobia A morbid fear of pain. algophobia Psychiatry A morbid fear of pain. See Phobia . al·go·pho·bi·a (al'gō-fō'bē-ă) Abnormal fear of or sensitivity to pain. [algo- + G. phobos, fear] al·go·pho·bi·a (al'gō-fō'bē-ă) Abnormal fear of pain. [algo- + G. phobos, fear] Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us , add a link to this page, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content . Link to this page: Copyright © 2003-2017 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only.

This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. The Phobia List Amaxophobia- Fear of riding in a car. Ambulophobia- Fear of walking. Amychophobia- Fear of scratches or being scratched. Anablephobia- Fear of looking up. Ancraophobia- Fear of wind. (Anemophobia) Androphobia- Fear of men. Anemophobia- Fear of air drafts or wind.(Ancraophobia) Anginophobia- Fear of angina, choking or narrowness. Anglophobia- Fear of England or English culture, etc. Angrophobia - Fear of anger or of becoming angry. Ankylophobia- Fear of immobility of a joint. Anthrophobia or Anthophobia- Fear of flowers. Anthropophobia- Fear of people or society. Antlophobia- Fear of floods. Anuptaphobia- Fear of staying single. Apeirophobia- Fear of infinity. Aphenphosmphobia- Fear of being touched. (Haphephobia) Apiphobia- Fear of bees.

Apotemnophobia- Fear of persons with amputations. Arachibutyrophobia- Fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth. Arachnephobia or Arachnophobia- Fear of spiders. Arithmophobia- Fear of numbers. Cainophobia or Cainotophobia- Fear of newness, novelty. Caligynephobia- Fear of beautiful women. Cancerophobia or Carcinophobia- Fear of cancer. Cardiophobia- Fear of the heart. Carnophobia- Fear of meat. Catagelophobia- Fear of being ridiculed. Catapedaphobia- Fear of jumping from high and low places. Cathisophobia- Fear of sitting. Cenophobia or Centophobia- Fear of new things or ideas. Ceraunophobia or Keraunophobia- Fear of thunder and lightning.(Astraphobia, Astrapophobia) Chaetophobia- Fear of hair. Cheimaphobia or Cheimatophobia- Fear of cold.(Frigophobia, Psychophobia) Chemophobia- Fear of chemicals or working with chemicals. Cherophobia- Fear of gaiety. Chiraptophobia- Fear of being touched. Chirophobia- Fear of hands.

Cholerophobia- Fear of anger or the fear of cholera. Chorophobia- Fear of dancing. Chrometophobia or Chrematophobia- Fear of money. Chromophobia or Chromatophobia- Fear of colors. Chronophobia- Fear of time. Cibophobia- Fear of food.(Sitophobia, Sitiophobia) Claustrophobia- Fear of confined spaces. Cleithrophobia or Cleisiophobia- Fear of being locked in an enclosed place. Cleptophobia- Fear of stealing. Climacophobia- Fear of stairs, climbing, or of falling downstairs. Clinophobia- Fear of going to bed. Clithrophobia or Cleithrophobia- Fear of being enclosed. Cnidophobia- Fear of stings. Decidophobia- Fear of making decisions. Defecaloesiophobia- Fear of painful bowels movements. Deipnophobia- Fear of dining or dinner conversations. Dementophobia- Fear of insanity. Demonophobia or Daemonophobia- Fear of demons. Demophobia- Fear of crowds. (Agoraphobia) Dendrophobia- Fear of trees. Dermatophobia- Fear of skin lesions.

Dermatosiophobia or Dermatophobia or Dermatopathophobia- Fear of skin disease. Dextrophobia- Fear of objects at the right side of the body. Diabetophobia- Fear of diabetes. Didaskaleinophobia- Fear of going to school. Dikephobia- Fear of justice. Dinophobia- Fear of dizziness or whirlpools. Diplophobia- Fear of double vision. Dipsophobia- Fear of drinking. Dishabiliophobia- Fear of undressing in front of someone. Disposophobia- Fear of throwing stuff out. Hoarding. Domatophobia- Fear of houses or being in a house.(Eicophobia, Oikophobia) Doraphobia- Fear of fur or skins of animals. Doxophobia- Fear of expressing opinions or of receiving praise. Dromophobia- Fear of crossing streets. Dutchphobia- Fear of the Dutch. Dysmorphophobia- Fear of deformity. Hagiophobia- Fear of saints or holy things. Hamartophobia- Fear of sinning. Haphephobia or Haptephobia- Fear of being touched. Harpaxophobia- Fear of being robbed.

Hedonophobia- Fear of feeling pleasure. Heliophobia- Fear of the sun. Hellenologophobia- Fear of Greek terms or complex scientific terminology. Helminthophobia- Fear of being infested with worms. Hemophobia or Hemaphobia or Hematophobia- Fear of blood. Heresyphobia or Hereiophobia- Fear of challenges to official doctrine or of radical deviation. Herpetophobia- Fear of reptiles or creepy, crawly things. Heterophobia- Fear of the opposite sex. (Sexophobia) Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia- Fear of the number 666. Hierophobia- Fear of priests or sacred things. Hippophobia- Fear of horses. Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia- Fear of long words. Hobophobia- Fear of bums or beggars. Hodophobia- Fear of road travel. Hormephobia- Fear of shock. Homophobia- Fear of sameness, monotony or of homosexuality or of becoming homosexual. Hoplophobia- Fear of firearms. Hydrargyophobia- Fear of mercurial medicines. Hydrophobia- Fear of water or of rabies.

Hydrophobophobia- Fear of rabies. Hyelophobia or Hyalophobia- Fear of glass. Hygrophobia- Fear of liquids, dampness, or moisture. Hylephobia- Fear of materialism or the fear of epilepsy. Hylophobia- Fear of forests. Hypengyophobia or Hypegiaphobia- Fear of responsibility. Hypnophobia- Fear of sleep or of being hypnotized. Hypsiphobia- Fear of height. Iatrophobia- Fear of going to the doctor or of doctors. Ichthyophobia- Fear of fish. Illyngophobia- Fear of vertigo or feeling dizzy when looking down. Iophobia- Fear of poison. Isolophobia- Fear of solitude, being alone. Isopterophobia- Fear of termites, insects that eat wood. Ithyphallophobia- Fear of seeing, thinking about or having an erect penis. Metrophobia- Fear or hatred of poetry. Microbiophobia- Fear of microbes. (Bacillophobia) Microphobia- Fear of small things. Misophobia or Mysophobia- Fear of being contaminated with dirt or germs. Mnemophobia- Fear of memories.

Molysmophobia or Molysomophobia- Fear of dirt or contamination. Monophobia- Fear of solitude or being alone. Monopathophobia- Fear of definite disease. Motorphobia- Fear of automobiles. Musophobia or Muriphobia- Fear of mice. Mycophobia- Fear or aversion to mushrooms. Mycrophobia- Fear of small things. Myctophobia- Fear of darkness. Mythophobia- Fear of myths or stories or false statements. Myxophobia- Fear of slime. (Blennophobia) Nebulaphobia- Fear of fog. (Homichlophobia) Necrophobia- Fear of death or dead things. Nelophobia- Fear of glass. Neopharmaphobia- Fear of new drugs. Neophobia- Fear of anything new. Nephophobia- Fear of clouds. Noctiphobia- Fear of the night. Nomatophobia- Fear of names. Nosophobia or Nosemaphobia- Fear of becoming ill. Nostophobia- Fear of returning home. Novercaphobia- Fear of your step-mother. Nucleomituphobia- Fear of nuclear weapons. Nudophobia- Fear of nudity.

Nyctohylophobia- Fear of dark wooded areas or of forests at night Nyctophobia- Fear of the dark or of night. If you appreciate the Phobia List, please help support it. Obesophobia- Fear of gaining weight.(Pocrescophobia) Ochlophobia- Fear of crowds or mobs. Ochophobia- Fear of vehicles. Octophobia - Fear of the figure 8. Odontophobia- Fear of teeth or dental surgery. Odynophobia or Odynephobia- Fear of pain. (Algophobia) Oenophobia- Fear of wines. Oikophobia- Fear of home surroundings, house.(Domatophobia, Eicophobia) Olfactophobia- Fear of smells. Ombrophobia- Fear of rain or of being rained on. Ommetaphobia or Ommatophobia- Fear of eyes. Omphalophobia- Fear of belly buttons. Oneirophobia- Fear of dreams. Oneirogmophobia- Fear of wet dreams. Onomatophobia- Fear of hearing a certain word or of names. Ophidiophobia- Fear of snakes. (Snakephobia) Ophthalmophobia- Fear of being stared at.

Opiophobia- Fear medical doctors experience of prescribing needed pain medications for patients. Optophobia- Fear of opening one's eyes. Ornithophobia- Fear of birds. Osmophobia or Osphresiophobia- Fear of smells or odors. Ostraconophobia- Fear of shellfish. Peladophobia- Fear of bald people. Pellagrophobia- Fear of pellagra. Pentheraphobia- Fear of mother-in-law. (Novercaphobia) Phagophobia- Fear of swallowing or of eating or of being eaten. Phalacrophobia- Fear of becoming bald. Phallophobia- Fear of a penis, esp erect. Pharmacophobia- Fear of taking medicine. Phasmophobia- Fear of ghosts. Phengophobia- Fear of daylight or sunshine. Philemaphobia or Philematophobia- Fear of kissing. Philophobia- Fear of falling in love or being in love. Philosophobia- Fear of philosophy. Photoaugliaphobia- Fear of glaring lights. Photophobia- Fear of light. Phonophobia- Fear of noises or voices or one's own voice; of telephones. Phronemophobia- Fear of thinking.

Phthiriophobia- Fear of lice. (Pediculophobia) Phthisiophobia- Fear of tuberculosis. Sarmassophobia- Fear of love play. (Malaxophobia) Satanophobia- Fear of Satan. Scatophobia- Fear of fecal matter. Scelerophibia- Fear of bad men, burglars. Sciophobia Sciaphobia- Fear of shadows. Scoleciphobia- Fear of worms. Scopophobia or Scoptophobia- Fear of being seen or stared at. Scotomaphobia- Fear of blindness in visual field. Scotophobia- Fear of darkness. (Achluophobia) Scriptophobia- Fear of writing in public. Selachophobia- Fear of sharks. Selaphobia- Fear of light flashes. Selenophobia- Fear of the moon. Seplophobia- Fear of decaying matter. Sesquipedalophobia- Fear of long words. Sexophobia- Fear of the opposite sex. (Heterophobia) Siderodromophobia- Fear of trains, railroads or train travel. Siderophobia- Fear of stars. Sinistrophobia- Fear of things to the left or left-handed. Sinophobia- Fear of Chinese, Chinese culture.

Sitophobia or Sitiophobia- Fear of food or eating. (Cibophobia) Snakephobia- Fear of snakes. (Ophidiophobia) Soceraphobia- Fear of parents-in-law. Social Phobia- Fear of being evaluated negatively in social situations. Sociophobia- Fear of society or people in general. Somniphobia- Fear of sleep. Soteriophobia - Fear of dependence on others. Spacephobia- Fear of outer space. Spectrophobia- Fear of specters or ghosts. Spermatophobia or Spermophobia- Fear of germs. Spheksophobia- Fear of wasps. Stasibasiphobia or Stasiphobia- Fear of standing or walking. (Ambulophobia) Staurophobia- Fear of crosses or the crucifix. Stenophobia- Fear of narrow things or places. Stygiophobia or Stigiophobia- Fear of hell. Suriphobia- Fear of mice. Taeniophobia or Teniophobia- Fear of tapeworms. Taphephobia Taphophobia- Fear of being buried alive or of cemeteries. Tapinophobia- Fear of being contagious. Taurophobia- Fear of bulls.

Teleophobia- 1) Fear of definite plans. 2) Religious ceremony. Telephonophobia- Fear of telephones. Teratophobia- Fear of bearing a deformed child or fear of monsters or deformed people. Testophobia- Fear of taking tests. Tetanophobia- Fear of lockjaw, tetanus. Teutophobia- Fear of German or German things. Textophobia- Fear of certain fabrics. Thaasophobia- Fear of sitting. Thalassophobia- Fear of the sea. Thanatophobia or Thantophobia- Fear of death or dying. Theatrophobia- Fear of theatres. Theophobia- Fear of gods or religion. Thermophobia- Fear of heat. Tocophobia- Fear of pregnancy or childbirth. Tomophobia- Fear of surgical operations. Tonitrophobia- Fear of thunder. Topophobia- Fear of certain places or situations, such as stage fright. Toxiphobia or Toxophobia or Toxicophobia- Fear of poison or of being accidently poisoned. Traumatophobia- Fear of injury. Does Algophobia Bother You?

Symptoms of algophobia: Your fear of pain can result in the following symptoms: breathlessness, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, inability to speak or think clearly, a fear of dying, becoming mad or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality or a full blown anxiety attack. You are not the only one to suffer from algophobia. Most sufferers are surprised to learn that they are far from alone in this surprisingly common, although often unspoken, phobia. Algophobia is an intense fear of something that poses little or no actual danger. While adults with algophobia realize that these fears are irrational, they often find that facing, or even thinking about facing, the feared situation brings on a panic attack or severe anxiety. There is a Way Out Imagine what your life will be like when you know that you are not "defective". When you can be confident and at ease in situations where you used to feel your algophobia. And when you can talk about your former algophobia symptoms as though you are describing a movie where the character is someone else, not you. An Amazing Discovery Several years ago, a psychologist specializing in phobias like algophobia, made an amazing discovery.

He kept up-to-date with all the leading therapies. And he tried them all. And no matter what therapy modality he tried, the cure rate of phobias like algophobia was less than 5%. Oh sure, patients made progress. But it was only incremental. And therapy took years, not months. Let's face it. It's possible that a small percentage of people would be "cured" even if left alone. Then he made an amazing discovery and his ability to eliminate algophobia soared to over 80%. He was so successful it nearly put him out of business. Well, it didn't put him out of business, but it did--at least for awhile--create a financial strain for the first time in his career. You see, he was able to "cure" algophobia clients often in one session, rarely more than five or six. This was a radical change from years of therapy. And quite a hit to his income. Now he has raised his rates. And you might be able to get an appointment with him...if you have about $1,000 handy. That's the "price" of success. What was the discovery? It was so simple, but nobody thought of looking there before.

Here it is, and it is called The Discovery Statement: "The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system." Note what he didn't say. He didn't say that it was in your thoughts, habits, beliefs, strategies or any other thing (although they do play a factor). Those are "the branches". The energy system is "the root". And from this root the field of Energy Psychology was born. Since this discovery, other innovators have emerged in Energy Psychology. And they offer solutions to emotional issues such as algophobia. A really nice feature of Energy Psychology is that in many cases self-help is sufficient. In cases where a therapist is desired or needed, Algophobia Live Help can be provided over the phone. And since not much talking is involved, the sessions are quick and affordable. Does It Work for Everyone? In a word, no it doesn't. It's not perfect. It only works about 85% of the time. But that is a radical shift from about 5% rate for some methods. A reason it may not work is that frankly some people are afraid to give up their algophobia. Their identity is wrapped up in it.

They have had their algophobia so long that they don't know who they would be without it. Fortunately, the same methods can be used to eliminate this fear first, should it arise. Finally, some people just love to talk about their algophobia. That's one reason why some people may spend years in talk therapy. They love to have someone who cares about them listen to their algophobia problems. Energy Psychology isn't about talk. It's about results. Fast, effective, lasting results. A lot of talking about problems keeps people in the "stuck" state and is counterproductive. So people who really want to talk about their algophobia because they are not really ready to let them go may not achieve optimal results. People like this may be better satisfied with talk therapy, even if it means extensive sessions, much higher expense and a lower success rate. But it is what some people want and seem to need. Don't get me wrong. Effective Energy Therapists listen really well. And with compassion. It's just that their focus is on the "root", not the "branches". You may feel like you have truly been heard for the first time in your life. So Energy Psychology is not perfect.

And it's not for everyone, perhaps only 80% or so of the population. Is it for you? Only you can decide. But it is worth a try. With the guarantees offered, the only thing you have to lose is your algophobia. Of course, success rates for elimination of algophobia will be higher with a therapist, Click here for Algophobia Live Help . But self-help is amazingly effective. Especially with the improved methods and techniques of leading edge developers in Energy Psychology such as Dr. Silva Hartmann. This is why we have links to her ebooks on this site. Algophobia does respond really well to energy psychology. Energy psychology is an emerging method that is rapidly gaining favor because in studies it is shown to be rapid, safe, effective and long-lasting. For more information on a safe and effective way to eliminate Algophobia click here for Self Help Solutions . Algophobia can severely disrupt normal life, interfering with school, work, or social relationships. Don't suffer needlessly. Don't wait any longer to eliminate this unnecessary suffering from your life. Click here for Algophobia Self Help Solutions .

Irrational fear | definition of Irrational fear by Medical dictionary Irrational fear | definition of Irrational fear by Medical dictionary phobia [fo´be-ah] a persistent, irrational, intense fear of a specific object, activity, or situation (the phobic stimulus), fear that is recognized as being excessive or unreasonable by the individual himself. When a phobia is a significant source of distress or interferes with social functioning, it is considered a mental disorder (sometimes called a phobic disorder ). Some typical phobias are: acrophobia (fear of heights), astraphobia (fear of lightning), cenotophobia (fear of new things or new ideas), claustrophobia (fear of closed places), hemophobia (fear of blood), and xenophobia (dread of strangers). Phobias are subclassified as agoraphobia , social phobias , and specific phobias . See also anxiety disorders . adj., adj pho´bic. simple phobia specific phobia . social phobia an anxiety disorder characterized by fear and avoidance of social or performance situations in which the individual fears possible embarrassment and humiliation, for example, fear of speaking, performing, or eating in public.

specific phobia an anxiety disorder characterized by persistent and excessive or unreasonable fear of a circumscribed, well-defined object or situation, in contrast to fear of being alone or of public places ( agoraphobia ) or fear of embarrassment in social situations ( social phobia ). Common specific phobias involve fear of animals, particularly dogs, snakes, insects, and mice; fear of closed spaces (claustrophobia); and fear of heights (acrophobia). pho·bi·a (fō'bē-ă), Any objectively unfounded morbid dread or fear that arouses a state of panic. The word is used as a combining form in many terms expressing the object that inspires the fear. [G. phobos, fear] phobia /pho·bia/ (fo´be-ah) a persistent, irrational, intense fear of a specific object, activity, or situation (the phobic stimulus), fear that is recognized as being excessive or unreasonable by the individual himself.

When a phobia is a significant source of distress or interferes with social functioning, it is considered a mental disorder (sometimes called a phobic disorder ); in DSM-IV phobias are classified with the anxiety disorders and are subclassified as agoraphobia, specific phobias, and social phobias.pho´bic (fō′bē-ə) n. 1. A persistent, abnormal, and irrational fear of a specific thing or situation that compels one to avoid it, despite the awareness and reassurance that it is not dangerous. 2. A strong fear, dislike, or aversion. phobia [fō′bē·ə] Etymology: Gk, phobos, fear an obsessive, irrational, and intense fear of a specific object, such as an animal or dirt; of an activity, such as meeting strangers or leaving the familiar setting of the home; or of a physical situation, such as heights and open or closed spaces. Typical manifestations of phobia include faintness, fatigue, palpitations, perspiration, nausea, tremor, and panic.

Some kinds of phobias are agoraphobia , algophobia , claustrophobia , erythrophobia , gynephobia , lalophobia, mysophobia , nyctophobia , photophobia , xenophobia , and zoophobia. Also called phobic anxiety , phobic disorder , phobic reaction. Compare compulsion. See also simple phobia , social phobia . phobic, adj.

phobia Greek, πηοβοσ, fear Psychiatry An irrational fear or an objectively unfounded 'morbid' dread of an element in the environment or particular activity, of such intensity as to evoke anxiety, panic, and adverse physiologic effects, and compel its victim to avoid contact therewith at virtually any social cost; phobias may result from displacing an internal conflict to an external object symbolically related to the conflict Common phobias Achluophobia–darkness, agora–open spaces, ailuro–cats, algo–pain, andro– ♂, auto–solitude, batho–depths, claustro–closed spaces, cyno–dogs, demo–crowds, erythro–blushing; gyno–♀, hypno–sleep, myso–dirt/germs, pan–everything, pedo–children, xeno–strangers. See Agoraphobia , Cancer phobia , Displacement , Fever phobia , Homophobia , Monophobia , PAD syndrome , School phobia , Simple phobia , Social phobia .

pho·bi·a (fō'bē-ă) Any objectively unfounded morbid dread or fear that arouses a state of panic. The word is used as a combining form in many terms expressing the object that inspires the fear. [G. phobos, fear] phobia An inappropriate, irrational or excessive fear of a particular object or situation, that interferes with normal life. Phobias may relate to many objects including reptiles or insects, open spaces or public places (agoraphobia), crowds, public speaking, performing or even eating in public and using public toilets. Exposure causes intense anxiety and sometimes a PANIC ATTACK . Treatment is by cognitive behaviour therapy. Phobia In psychoanalytic theory, a psychological defense against anxiety in which the patient displaces anxious feelings onto an external object, activity, or situation. Mentioned in: Agoraphobia , Antianxiety Drugs , Anxiety , Benzodiazepines , Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors phobia, n an intense, irrational, and obsessive fear of a particular object, activity, or situation such as animals, heights, meeting new people, or enclosed spaces.

pho·bi·a (fō'bē-ă) Any objectively unfounded morbid dread or fear that arouses a state of panic; used as a combining form in many terms expressing the object that inspires the fear. [G. phobos, fear] What is Algophobia? What is Algophobia? Last Modified Date: 24 December 2016 Copyright Protected: You won't believe these 10 facts about people Algophobia is an overwhelming and irrational fear of pain, the possible experience of pain, or any scenario in which pain might occur. It is a phobia that is considered cyclical in nature because the symptoms of the phobia may actually elevate or make more likely the thing feared. In other words, symptoms of this condition like tension, anxiety, panic, and worry, can cause physical pain such as headaches or muscle aches. Additionally, the symptoms of this phobia may also elevate the pain felt of any injury or other painful condition. There is reliable and helpful treatment for algophobia, and it is worth pursuing because few people can go through life without experiencing physical pain, at least occasionally. The way that algophobia is expressed may vary slightly among individuals.

When faced with the actual experience of pain or the fear that pain might occur, a person with this phobia might suffer symptoms like excess perspiration, heavy breathing, trembling, a sense of doom, nausea and/or vomiting , and panic attacks. Avoiding these unpleasant symptoms would mean attempting to avoid all situations when pain might occur. Algophobes might be meticulous in their habits in any activity that has risk — no matter how slight — of physical injury, or they might avoid such activities altogether. They might experience panic at the thought of activities like going to the doctor to receive an immunization or going to the dentist, which could risk increased pain. Additionally, algophobes sometimes overuse pain medication in attempts to evade pain. It’s not always clear how algophobia sufferers respond to scenarios like going to seek help for pain. Some may be willing to head to an emergency room for pain treatment. Others might delay medical treatment if they feel their pain would increase before it decreased. An algophobe may also find that looking at, or reading or hearing about others in pain activates the symptoms of his or her condition. If a person believes he or she has algophobia, there are several viable options for treatment.

Working with a psychotherapist, the algophobe can use different types of behavioral therapy like exposure therapy, which help gradually accustom a patient to indirect or direct experiences of the thing feared. This might be physically painful, so other behavioral therapy models like cognitive behavioral therapy may be preferred. Alternatives for treatment of this phobia could include using hypnosis or talk therapy to help patients reduce their anxiety response to experienced pain or feared pain. Methods to end this phobia take time and work to accomplish, but many people are successfully able to end their fear of pain and lead much fuller lives when they recover from this condition. Ad Algophobia - Tranceform Psychotherapy Wolverhampton Algophobia Psychotherapy for Algophobia in Wolverhampton Algophobia is the Fear of Pain. Pain is very rarely pleasant, however, with people suffering this phobia, they will often become very fearful and develop behaviours that are so over-cautious that they rarely venture outside or participate in any situation where pain could be a likely consequence. Of course, it’s possible that an accident could occur at any time in anyone’s life but the majority of people learn to accept this without adversely affecting their day-to-day lives.

All phobias, regardless of what the feared object or circumstances are, cause Anxiety and Stress for the sufferer. Whilst the feared object or situation may seem, to other people, to be ridiculous or silly, the person who suffers from the phobia knows only too well that the Anxiety that they experience is real enough. We completely understand this here at TranceForm Psychotherapy and will treat you and your Algophobia seriously. For many years Psychologists have been aware that our minds are more than capable of producing a real biological reaction to any given situation and so as long as the Phobic person “believes” that the object or situation they fear represents danger to them, then they will experience real fear. The majority of people who do suffer with a Phobia understand that their fear is “irrational” but continue to experience it regardless of this knowledge. This is why simply being told to “snap out of it” rarely produces a solution!

[separator style_type=”single” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”40″ sep_color=”” icon=”fa-chevron-down” width=”” class=”” id=””] Symptoms of Algophobia The symptoms of Algophobia are very similar to other specific phobias and will often include: Feelings of Panic, Dread or Terror Inability to Relax Migraines and Headaches Poor Quality of Sleep Algophobia Symptoms are generally automatic and uncontrollable and can seem to take over a person’s thoughts which frequently leads to extreme measures being taken to avoid the feared object or situation, what are known as “Safety” or “Avoidance”behaviours. Unfortunately, for the sufferer, these safety behaviours have a paradoxical effect and actually reinforce the phobia rather than solve it! Algophobia may be the result of negative emotional experiences that can be either directly or indirectly linked to the object or situational fear. Over time, the symptoms often become “normalised” and “accepted” as a limiting factor in that person’s life – “I’ve learnt to live with it.” In just as many cases, Algophobia may have become worse over time as more and more sophisticated safety behaviours and routines are developed.

The good news is that the vast majority of people who suffer from Algophobia will find a course of Psychotherapy helps enormously. Almost every phobia responds well to psychological interventions. [separator style_type=”single” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”40″ sep_color=”” icon=”fa-chevron-down” width=”” class=”” id=””] Psychotherapy Treatments for Algophobia TranceForm is able to offer two distinct forms of Psychotherapy for treating Algophobia, “Directive” therapy and “Psychodynamic” therapy. The main difference between these two Therapeutic models lies in the way they approach the problem.

[one_full spacing=”yes” last=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”#f4f4f4″ background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” link=”” hover_type=”none” border_position=”all” border_size=”2px” border_color=”#ad7031″ border_style=”dashed” padding=”10px” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””] Directive Therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and the Thrive Programme tend to regard the symptoms of Algophobia as existing very much in the present moment and consider that the past experiences of the sufferer should largely be disregarded as playing little part in the problem today. These types of therapy place a low emphasis on the dynamic processes that exist between the Therapist and the Client and see the methodology itself as being the main solution.

[/one_full] [one_full spacing=”yes” last=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”#f4f4f4″ background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” link=”” hover_type=”none” border_position=”all” border_size=”2px” border_color=”#ad7031″ border_style=”dashed” padding=”10px” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””] Psycho-Dynamic Therapies such as Psychoanalysis and Schema Therapy are fundamentally different to the Directive approaches as they consider that events and influences experienced in the earlier formative lives of the person can cause, or at least “pre-dispose”, a person to suffer in a specific way in later life. The aim of psycho-dynamic therapy is to help a person to understand and resolve these causative issues following the doctrine of “cause and effect”. In these types of Therapy, the relationship between the therapist and client is considered as an important factor in the solution to the problems.

[/one_full] You can read more about Psychodynamic Therapy V Directive Therapy approaches here. [separator style_type=”single” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”40″ sep_color=”” icon=”fa-chevron-down” width=”” class=”” id=””] Free Initial Assessments for Algophobia We offer a FREE Initial Assessment (Consultation) for anybody looking to overcome their Algophobia with us. This normally lasts about 50 minutes to an hour and provides you with a “no-pressure” opportunity to find out how our Psychotherapy treatments work and what might be involved if you decide to commence therapy with us. We also use this time to make an evaluation, based on your specific circumstances, of whether you are more suited to Directive or Psycho-dynamic therapy.

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Question: Algophobia is an irrational fear of what?
Answer: Pain